New York says hold the salt — it’s about time – The No Salt, No Fat, No Sugar Journal

New York City is taking steps to let consumers know how much salt is in the restaurant foods they buy. The city’s Board of Health voted unanimously Wednesday (Sept. 9) to require chain restaurants to post salt shaker symbols on menus next to offerings that have more than the daily recommended 2,300 mgs, about a teaspoon, of salt in them.

Subway's spicy Italian, avoid it like a salt plague! — Sandwiches like this are loaded with salt, now chains in New York City will need ot tell that to custoemrs.

“This really represents, to me, the next step in allowing usable information for our community to make better health decisions,” said board member Dr. Deepthiman K. Gowda. “My hope is that this impacts not only consumer practices but also impacts the practices of our restaurants.”The quote appeared in an Associated Press report on the vote.

The move will impact restaurants serving about a third of restaurant meals in the city, AP reported. I wish it was extended to all the food establishments in the city, including movie theaters selling obscenely salted popcorn; maybe someday.

New York moved early on getting calorie counts posted on menus too. I’ve seen mixed reports on whether that’s getting people to eat less.

Let’s hope this new regulation gets people to finally start thinking about the salt they consume. Heart disease is the number one killer in America and salt plays a role, even if the industry’s trade group, the Salt Institute, is saying such thinking is outdated.

I’ve seen the impact on my own blood pressure of cutting the salt I eat and so I offer a long list of ways here to cook without salt and to find the lowest salt restaurant meals you can buy when dining out.

Good luck trying to slay your personal salt beasts.

John